USE A PAPER WALLET

Use a Paper Wallet clearly illustrated, easy, secure and fast

Have you received a Bitcoin paper wallet, possibly as a gift, tip, prize, or through a Kiosk? Are you wondering how to spend the money contained on this paper wallet? Spending funds from a paper wallet is a three-step process that can be done by anyone with a Web browser and an Internet connection. This guide shows how.

STEP 1

Create a Software Wallet

Claiming the funds on a paper wallet requires software. This software is usually referred to as a “wallet”, which should not be confused with your paper wallet. Web wallets offer an especially convenient kind of software that runs within a browser.

Visit blockchain.info to start a new Web wallet. An email address is required, but need not be your own. The benefit of using your own email address is security; under certain scenarios, you’ll be able to recover your wallet. Enter a password at least 10 characters long. Check the box agreeing to the terms, then click Continue.

You’ll be presented with a getting started screen. Click outside the white area to dismiss it.

STEP 2

Import the Paper Wallet

Having created a Web wallet, the next goal is to fund it. To do this, you’ll need to link your paper wallet with your Blockchain wallet. This can be accomplished through a process known as “importing.”

Log into your Blockchain wallet. One the left panel, click SETTINGS. If your browser is too narrow to show this panel, it can be displayed by clicking on the hamburger icon (☰) to the top right of the window. From the list of options, click Addresses.

At this point it’s necessary to explain some jargon:

address: a unique identifier used to direct Bitcoin payments;

private key: a secret that controls your ability to spend the funds on your paper wallet.

Begin the paper wallet import by clicking the Import Bitcoin Address button near the bottom of your screen.

Returning to your Blockchain wallet, import the address from your paper wallet. First, click the Import Bitcoin Address button near the bottom of the screen. Blockchain will present a dialog containing a text box and a button marked with a QR code logo. Click it.

Your computer’s camera should activate. Center the private key of your paper wallet, then bring it toward the camera. The QR code will automatically be read and transcribed into the text box. Click Import.

On completion of the paper wallet import, Blockchain presents a box with a summary. Review it, then click Close. Clicking Transfer will trigger a fee payment, which is what we’re trying to avoid. Click Cancel when asked whether you are sure.

Your paper wallet address, along with the balance associated with it, should appear below the Import Bitcoin Address button.

Congratulations! You now own a working Bitcoin wallet. You may be wondering what you can do with it.

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